India warns Pakistan of ‘painful consequences' to any misadventure
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing a weekly media briefing, subtly alluded to India's military response during Operation Sindoor when commenting on recent aggressive rhetoric from Pakistan, including statements by Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and defence minister Khawaja Asif.
'We have seen reports regarding a continuing pattern of reckless, war-mongering and hateful comments from Pakistani leadership against India,' Jaiswal said. 'Pakistan would be well advised to temper its rhetoric, as any misadventure will have painful consequences, as was demonstrated recently.' He added that it is a 'well-known modus operandi of the Pakistani leadership to whip up anti-India rhetoric time and again to hide their own failures.'
Since last week, Pakistan's leadership has escalated its rhetoric over issues ranging from threats to use nuclear weapons to the possibility of war if India restricts the flow of cross-border rivers amid the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Munir, elevated to field marshal following four days of hostilities with India in May, reportedly told the Pakistani diaspora in the US last week that Pakistan could use its nuclear weapons to take down India and 'half the world' in case of an existential threat, and would use missiles to destroy Indian dams on shared rivers.
Also read: Outcome of India-Pakistan conflict: Much to be pleased about, much to learn
On Tuesday, Shehbaz Sharif promised to 'teach India a lesson' if it interferes with Pakistan's water supply. 'I want to tell the enemy today that if you threaten to stop our water, keep this in mind—you cannot snatch even one drop from Pakistan,' he said.
At a related event on Wednesday marking Pakistan's response to Operation Sindoor, Sharif announced the creation of an 'Army Rocket Force Command' to enhance missile combat capabilities. A senior official told Reuters that the force, meant for conventional conflict, 'is obvious that it is meant for India.'
Asif stated over the weekend that any violation of Pakistan's sovereignty would provoke a 'swift, surefire and proportionate response.' Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari described India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as an 'attack,' affirming that Pakistan would not back down if forced into war.
India initially responded to Munir's nuclear threats by warning that such rhetoric sparks doubts about Pakistan's nuclear command-control integrity, given its military's proximity to terrorist groups. The ministry reiterated that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail.
Also Read: Pakistan took 48 hours to admit intrusion, refused to take back body initially: BSF
Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by The Resistance Front (a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba), India applied punitive diplomatic and economic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and launching Operation Sindoor on May 7. Four days of hostilities followed, ending with a mutual understanding on May 10.
Jaiswal also rejected a recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which instructed India to 'let flow' waters of western rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. 'India has never accepted the legality, legitimacy or competence of the so‑called Court of Arbitration. Its pronouncements are therefore without jurisdiction, devoid of legal standing, and have no bearing on India's rights of utilisation,' he said.
He added that India rejects Pakistan's 'selective and misleading references to the so-called 'award.'' Referring to India's June 27 statement that the Indus Waters Treaty 'stands in abeyance,' Jaiswal noted it was a sovereign decision motivated by 'Pakistan's continued sponsorship of cross‑border terrorism, including the barbaric Pahalgam attack.'
India has not participated in arbitration proceedings since Pakistan challenged components of the Kishanganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydropower projects under the treaty. While the World Bank appointed both a neutral expert and a Court of Arbitration in 2016, India only recognized and engaged with the neutral expert, rejecting the Court of Arbitration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Pakistan Army chief Munir rejects speculation over President Zardari's ouster
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir dismissed rumours about President Asif Ali Zardari's removal as false, stressing unity between the government and the establishment. Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has ruled out any change in the leadership, describing rumours about the removal of President Asif Ali Zardari as completely false and against both the government and the establishment, a media report said on Saturday. In July, social media reports began to circulate that President Zardari may be asked to step down and that the army chief would take over the top office. However, top government officials — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi — rejected such claims. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suhail Warraich, a columnist for the Jang media group, claimed in an article published Saturday that the army chief had spoken to him in person on the matter during a recent meeting in Brussels. Munir briefly stayed in Belgium on his return from last week's visit to the United States. 'The talk started with politics, especially on rumours that there is some effort to change the president of Pakistan as well as the prime minister. Field Marshal Munir clearly said, during both the Brussels gathering and in his two-hour discussion with me, that the rumours about a change were completely false,' Warraich claimed in the column published in the Urdu daily Jang. 'There are elements behind this (rumour) who oppose both the government and the authorities and wish to create political anarchy,' the army chief was quoted as saying. The article claimed that Munir also outlined his ambitions in the Brussels gathering, saying that: 'God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that.' 'On a question about politics, he [Munir] said that political reconciliation is possible only if there is a sincere apology,' the report read. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although it was not clear who Munir was referring to, it can be inferred that he may have been referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: and its incarcerated leader, Imran Khan. On foreign relations, Munir was said to have expressed confidence in maintaining equilibrium between the US and China. 'We will not sacrifice one friend for the other,' Munir was quoted as saying. The army chief also described President Donald Trump's efforts for peace as 'genuine', and said Pakistan had taken the lead in nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was then followed by other nations.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
'US Thinks They Can Boss Around': Top Economist Jeffrey Sachs Slams Trump Tariffs On India
US economist Jeffrey Sachs has criticised President Donald Trump for slapping hefty tariffs on India, denouncing the policy as both "stupid" and saying it "serves no purpose". Speaking to ANI, Sachs said Trump's move reflects hostility toward the BRICS alliance of India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. "This makes no sense. It's not true. It's failing. Putting the surcharge on India was as stupid as it could be from any norm. It serves no purpose," he remarked. Sachs described Trump as "delusional" and blasted Washington's long-standing habit of exercising global dominance. "The US has exercised its dominant power for so long, they think they can boss every other part of the world around," he said. According to Sachs, the 50% duties slapped on Indian imports, triggered by New Delhi's oil trade with Russia, are not only damaging to America's own economy but also breach global rules. "Everything about the tariffs is wrong. It's destructive for the US economy. It violates international law. It's a breakdown of our political system. Trump's policies are doomed to fail," he warned. The economist also advised India to take a cautious view of Washington, arguing that New Delhi's long-term interests will not be safeguarded by leaning on the US for defence or trade. "US politicians don't care at all about India. Please understand this. India is not going to reap long-term security by siding with the United States in the Quad against China. India is a great power that has an independent standing in the world," Sachs said. Instead, he pointed to China, Russia and Brazil as India's "real partners," cautioning against the belief that India could seamlessly substitute China in global supply chains. Even if India aids in diversifying US sourcing, Sachs said, it should not expect a "great trade relationship" with Washington. He has previously called Trump's tariffs "unconstitutional," arguing they expose deep flaws in America's economic and foreign strategy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sarang condemns ‘I-Day Pakistan' hashtag from Youth Congress account
Khargone: State cooperative department minister and Khargone district in-charge, Vishvas Sarang, on Friday alleged that an Independence Day message on Facebook page of Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress carried a hashtag — 'Independence Day Pakistan. ' The message was apparently deleted soon after the controversy began. Talking to mediapersons after flag hoisting in Khargone, Sarang said, "Rahul Gandhi and Congress always talk as if they are Pakistan-loving people. Gandhi, who opposed Operation Sindoor and questioned surgical strike, is shining up his politics by speaking language of China and Pakistan and defames India after going abroad. The same mentality is evident from Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress hashtag." Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress social media chairman Devendra Bairagi, told TOI, "On Friday morning, the official Facebook account of Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress was hacked by anti-social elements in which objectionable posts were made. This incident was an attempt to disrupt the activities and communication of the organisation." He said, "Our IT team took immediate action and re-secured the account, and at present, the page is completely safe and is operating normally." A formal complaint in this regard has been given to the Delhi office. The cyber cell will also be informed for an in-depth investigation of this matter, he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
